Radiator casing



Dec. 13, 1932. I J. J. MUNDORF 1,891,169

RADIATOR CASING Filed Feb. 16, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet l James JMaxm/og i, av

ATTORNEY J. J. MUNDORF 69 RADIATOR CASING Filed Feb. 16, 1951 ,5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec, 13, 1932.

INVENTOR James d/Vafiabr/ ATTORNEY Dec. 13; 1932. .1. J. MUNDORF RADIATOR CASING Filed Feb. 16, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 James J/Zzzzraar/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNiTE stares PATENT oFFice JAIvIES J. MUNDORF, OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR- TO THE MUNDORF HEAT- ING SYSTEMS COMPANY, OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA RADIATOR CASING Application filed February 16, 1931. Serial No. 516,137.

The object of this invention is to provide means for controlling heat in the individual rooms of a building wherein the radiators are in communication with a central plant, such as that commonly employed in connection with a steam, hot water, vapor or vacuum system,so that the central plant may be maintained under substantially uniform heating conditions, and thus rooms requiring a greater degree of heat than others because of wind conditions or the like, may be kept at a temperature desired, without regard to other rooms Where a much lower temperature may be suflicient, or where a given temperature may be readily maintained because of no uncalled for circulation of air through the apartment or room.

A further object is to provide means under mechanical and automatic control within each room, so that while automatic control may operate, additional heat or reduced temperature may be obtained at the will of the individual or individuals concerned.

A further object is to provide improved circulationwithin the room in whichthe separate or individual units or cabinets are installed.

A further object is to make unnecessary the bronzing, painting or ornamentation of a radiator, thereby saving this important item in connection with original installation and in connection with maintenance, and eliminating the objectionable features connected with the filling of the porous structure of the r iron, which materially reduces the radiating effect for a given surface of exposed metal.

A further object is to avoid the use of automatic controlling valves on the radiators per se, which valves are subject to leakage, sometimes with harmful results.

A further object is to prevent more or less frequent variations in temperature at the plant, or within the fire box, and to obviate the dificulties well known and constantly arising when individual radiators are cut ofl from the system, from time to time, and then restored as units in the general system of circulation.

A further object is to provide, in the manufacture of the cabinet, an ornamental construction, so that the heating unit may form a pleasing feature, harmonizing with room decorations, and to avoid the accumulation of dust on the radiator per se, the surface of the cabinet being such that it may be cleaned to much better advantage in a short space of time than is required for cleaning a radiator of the kind in common use.

1th the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the novel arrangement of the elements herein disclosed, it being understood that modifications, alterations or changes may be made within the scope of the claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming part of thisapplicat1on:

Figure 1 is a view of the device in front elevation.

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section showing features of construction described below.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section, on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, on line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical control.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a casing, cabinet or housing, including a main front portion, and having panels 11 and 12, or other surface ornamentation, the front of the casing providing for upper and lower slidable valves adapted to be mounted respectively behind the plate portions 13 and 14 which are provided with openings, such as those shown in the drawings, and usually formed as vertical parallel slots or the like.

Immediately in the rear of the elements 13 and 14, I mount slidable valve members 15, 16, and these are under manual and automatic control, so that the circulation in the casing or cabinet may be in accordance with the wishes of the individual occupying or using a particular room, and the radiator, shown conventionally, in dotted lines, and designated 18, will be efiective to a maximum degree in connection with the heating operation, or will be cut off from the room circulation of air, in order to maintain, raise or lower the temperature of the individual apartment or room, as desired. The valves move simultaneously to open position, or to closed position.

The control just referred to is effected by means of the bar mounted in an approximately vertical position and pivotally secured at 21, this bar having forked upper and lower ends, adapted to engage pins or lugs on the slidable valve members 15 and 16. The pins are designated 22 and 23, and the valve members are slidable in guides, such as 24.

An indicator is designated 25 and it is mounted on the forward end of the element 21, whereby the position of the valves at a given time is determined. The element 25 is movable in an arc-shaped path, and a plate 26, mounted as shown in Figure 1, serves an obvious purpose.

The automatic control is effected by the i use of an individual thermostat or room thermostat, shown conventionally at 28, and one terminal of this device 15 connected with feed wire 29, the contacts and 31 being con:

nected respectively with wires 32 and 33 leading to switch contacts 34, A switch is shown conventionally at 36, and wires 37 38 are connected with the switch terminals and with contacts 39, 39'.

Electromagnetic coils 40, 40 are each provided with a core, cooperating with armature 41 carried by and adapted to move the pivoted arm 20, whereby the closing or the opening movement of the valves heretofore referred to (designated 15 and 16) is effected.

Coil 40 is connected by wire 42 with the movable contact device 42', and this coil is further connected, at opposite ends thereof, by wire 43, with wire 44, constituting one of the line wires of the circuit. Coil 40 is connected by means of wires 46 with movable contact member 42", and this coil is also connected by means of wire with line wire 44.

A contact making and contact breaking arm is designated 48, and is movable with arm 20, so that the position of the elements 42' and 42, with reference to a completed circuit, or broken circuit, as the case may be, through coils 40, 40', determines the position of the armature 41 and the arm 20. The position of this arm 20 and the upper and lower slidable valves, therefore, depends upon the room thermostat, shown conventionally at 28. Automatic control by the individual thermostat, of the radiator casing, so far as the circulation of air between the interior of the latter and the room is concerned, depends, therefore, upon the setting of the room thermostat. A sleeping apartment or room may, therefore, receive a temperature suitable for the purpose indicated, whereas the living rooms of the house will usually have a higher temperature, but in each instance, the control will be automatic. Manual control may obviously be effected in the most convenient manner.

The housing, while a feature of importance, is in a sense subordinate to the control of the circulation of air within the housing, so that the latter may be of a suitable t pe, and not necessarily of a specific type. T owever, insulated walls will usually be employed, and in the drawings, I have shown a rear metallic wall 50, a layer of insulation 51, and an inner metallic wall 52. This wall structure is provided at its top with a recessed or countersunk portion telescopically receiving a cover, provided with double 1netallic walls and an intermediate body of in sulation. The upper plate of the complete cover is designated 53, the insulation is shown at 54, and the inner plate member is desigated A deflecting device is designatel 56 and serves to deflect the air currents circulated *ithin the casing or cabinet.

The lower wall structure includes a central member 60, and end members, such as 61, the latter being formed approximately as shown in Figure 5, that is, having cut away portions 62 for the legs of the radiator 18, and having a deeper cut away portion, at least at one end of the housing, designated 63, and designed to provide for the accommodation of the pipe 64.

The front wall of the housing is similarly formed of inner and outer plate members, with an intervening body of insulation and the main portion of the wall requires no further description, but adjacent to the slots in the upper and lower portions of the front of the structure, I provide special construction, as disclosed especially in Figure 3.

Each air opening or air port through the front wall of the casing is provided with a frame having a wall 65 and a rolled flange 66 extending over the adjacent portion ot the front wall. An element of insulation or packing 67 is retained by member 65, and the element 68 deflected at 69, 69 is positioned as shown in Figure 4, and is welded, riveted, or otherwise properly secured to the front wall 10. The outer element of the cover includes a flange 53' extending over he upper portion of the front wall. The connection between the inner and outer plates may also be by welding at an approximately opposite point 52, and wherever necessary in the assembly of the elements of construction.

The slidable valves and 16, suitably slotted, may be of fiber, and a roller and slot connection or mounting at the points 7 0 insures the operation of the valves without perceptible friction. Upper and lower channeled slides for the valves are shown at 71, 71 in the view under consideration.

The end walls T l, 75 are usually formed to correspond in structure with the rear wall, and provision is made by means of slot 76 for the vent pipe 77 of the radiator.

What is claimed is 1. A radiator enclosing structure, comprising vertical walls, some of which permit of air circulation therethrough, a cover member, and a lower wall formed in a plurality of independent sections.

2. A radiator enclosing structure comprising vertical walls, a cover member and a lowor wall comprising slotted end sections proportioned to lit the legs of a radiator, and an intermediate section proportioned to abut the ends of the end sections of the lower wall.

3. A device of the character described comprising a rectangular enclosure having back, front and end walls, a cover for closing the top, one wall having openings near its top and bottom for bringing about circulation of air, slidably mounted shutter means for covering and uncovering said openings to a corresponding extent, and a sectional bottom for the enclosure.

4. An enclosure for a radiator having legs and fluid inlet and outlet pipes at its ends, said enclosure having front, back and end walls and a removable cover, said enclosure having openings at its top and bottom for the outlet and inlet respectively of air, means for controlling the size of the openings, said enclosure being arranged in surrounding rela tion to the radiator, and a bottom for the enclosure having openings therein for accommodating the radiator legs and said pipes.

5. An enclosure for a radiator having legs and fluid inlet and outlet pipes at its ends, said enclosure having front, back and end walls and a removable cover, said enclosure having openings at its top and bottom for the outlet and inlet respectively of air, means for controlling the size of the openings, said enclosure being arranged in surrounding relation to the radiator, and a bottom for the enclosure havin openings therein for accommodating the radiator legs and said pipes, said bottom being formed of end and intermediate sections.

6. An enclosure for a radiator having legs and inlet and outlet pipes at its ends, the enclosure comprising front, back and end walls and a top cover and having openings near its top and bottom for permitting circulation of air about the radiator, and a bottom for the enclosure comprising end sections slotted to accommodate said pipes and recessed to accommodate said legs, and further including an intermediate section interposed between and abutting the confronting edges of the end sections.

7. A device of the character described comprising a radiator enclosure having vertical front, back and end walls and a cover, one wall having openings near its top and bottom for the circulation of air, guide means on the rear of said wall adjacent said openings, horizontally slidably mounted shutters mounted in said guides for regulating said openings, an arm pivoted intermediate its ends on the rear of said wall and having its ends operatively connected with said shutters, and means for moving said arm to shift said shutters in opposite directions to a proportionate degree.

8. In combination with a radiator, a casing completely enclosing the same and provided throughout with heat insulating walls, said casing having air intake and discharge openings respectively adjacent its bottom and top, slide valves positioned fiat against the casing wall and simultaneously movable into and out of positions of closure for said openings, a movable bar disposed adjacent the front wall of the casing and operatively connecting said valves, and automatic means for imparting movement to said bar.

9. In combination with a radiator, a casing completely enclosing the same and provided throughout with heat insulating walls, said casing having air intake and discharge openin gs respectively adjacent its bottom and top, slide valves positioned flat against the casing wall and simultaneously movable into and out of positions of closure for said openings, a movable bar disposed adjacent the front wall of the casing and operatively connecting said valves, automatic means for imparting movement to said bar, and an indicator disposed exteriorly of the casing and opera-tively connected with said bar to visually indicate the positions of said valves.

10. In combination with a radiator, a casing completely enclosing the same and provided throughout with heat insulating walls, said casing having air intake and discharge openings respectively adjacent its bottom and top, slide valves positioned fiat against the casing wall and simultaneously movable into and out of positions of closure for said openings, a pivotally mounted bar disposed within the casing and operatively connected with all of said valves, and an electrical actuating means for said bar to effect simultaneous movement of said valves.

11. In combination with a radiator, a casing completely enclosing the same and provided throughout with heat insulating walls, said casing having air intake and discharge openings respectively adjacent its bottom and top, slide valves positioned flat against the casing wall and simultaneously movable into and out of positions of closure for said openings, :1 pivotally mounted bar disposed within the casing and operatively connected with all of said valves, an electrical actuating means for said bar to efiect simultaneous movement of said valves, anda thermostatic control for said electrical actuating means.

In testimony whereof I afiix mv signature.

JAMES J. MUNDORF. 

